Artificial Mates - Chapter 58

This can’t be happening. My heart hammered inside my chest. I grabbed on Grant’s back wrinkling his shirt in the process. The boys standing in front of us must be around thirteen to eighteen.

“Boys, let’s not resort to violence. We are going to walk away and head to the station. No harm done,” shouted Grant with his arms in the air. They rose their sticks ready to dash forward. I doubted Grant’s words had any effect on them.

“Lady, walk away from that thing. We don’t want to hurt you,” said the youngest of them. My fingers closed tighter over the fabric on his shirt. No, this wasn’t real. A burst of choked laughter came from my lips. Those were kids, what the hell.

“Stupid brats, what the f.u.c.k. I’m going to call the police. Do you want to get locked in jail? What will your parents think?” I shouted. They glared back with lips peeling up clenched teeth.

“We are from ‘The Real Humans’. F.u.c.k the police! Our parents lost their jobs cause those fakes are taking over everything,” snapped the oldest one. He shook his stick towards us.

“Grant is not like that! He is helping to cure people!” Grant rose his hand to silence me. They took a step crushing the flowers under their feet. This wasn’t good.

-I can’t get a connection out here. But I’m sending a distress signal to whoever is close enough to get it. I really don’t want to hurt those minors.

This was rapidly escalating. I knew this whole project of coming here stunk. What were those kids talking about? How could they be members of that terrorist group? They must be really stupid.

“Kids, this is my last warning. I’m recording and will use it against you,” the threat didn’t stop them in their advance. As they came closer Grant rose his hand to protect me. His new hand. I can’t believe we are getting in yet another fight where he will get hurt. I gave a quick glance around me and bent to pick up a rock lying among the flowers.

“Stay back!” I shouted. “I will freaking beat the shit out of you if you lay a finger on him,” and I meant it. I made a promise to his maker and intended on keeping it. The kids paused and shared a doubtful look. They lowered their sticks making me sighed.

“Kill it!” shouted the youngest one. I jumped as they all bolted with sticks high above their heads. Grant used his right hand to shield himself from their blows and pushed them away.

“Liliane! Run!”

“No freaking way,” I yelled and punched the boy who came straight at me. The impact was light, he reposted by slapping the rock out of my hand. It fell to the ground with a dull sound. He kicked me in the leg sending me to the ground. I let out a surprised cry. I caught a glimpse of Grant knocking one of the boys out than receiving a violent hit on the back from the older one.

“No!” I struggled to my feet however, the little brat pulled on my hair. I tried to shove it away scratching his face with my nails. A low growl came from the street. A strange sensation made the hair at the back of my neck stand up. The boy looked up in shock. I followed his gaze. There, standing was a tall figure with piercing blue eyes. Oozing from it was deadly intent. Death. The kid let go of my hair and took a step back.

“Get, away from my mate!”

The two older boys turned towards him. Stick ready to strike. I sat among the flowers watching with wide eyes as the scene unfolded in slow motion. Everything in my body screamed that he was my mate. He was Demos. However, the aura surrounded him was foreign. In one movement, Demos pulled his white t-shirt over his head. Locks of hair fell on his forehead. It was not the time for a striptease. He kicked his shoes away and the moment he pulled on his jeans he shifted. I wouldn’t use another word. I think my mind just froze.

“Get away monster!” squealed the boy. The thing, that was supposed to be Demos jumped in a blur smashing into the two older boys. The youngest one fleet in the field while screaming with waving arms. Grant hurried next to me.

“You’re ok?” he asked. I couldn’t tear my eyes off the fury thing biting into the leg of the oldest boy. He yelled and struggled to get free. Grant turned to them.

“Demos that’s enough!” he snapped his eyes turning aquamarine. The black fury beast lifted its head, icy blue eyes glaring.

-They hurt my mates. I’ll rip them to shreds.

I swallowed the lump trying to suffocate me. This meter high large animal couldn’t be Demos. So much anger and violence radiated from it. I could feel it through the link. Its head tilted up and our eyes met.

“Demos…” I whispered.

-Are you hurt? I’m sorry, I’m late.

This couldn’t be… There was no way. The beast left the whining kids crying while holding their wounds on the ground. It came closer to me, I instinctively moved back. It stopped a couple of steps away staring at me.

-Tamus taught me how to shift. I’m his alpha after all.

A shadow of a smile pulled on its bloody teeth. I shivered in fright. Was it this way from the start? I thought the werewolf theme was only a cool name and not the real thing. Not that scary thing!

-Liliane, please don’t be scared.

“You have freaking blood all over your face and you’re telling me not to freak out? Are you kidding me? And why didn’t you tell me anything about…” I gestured towards the animal towering over me. “Where the hell were you? What are you really doing in this freaking job? Learning to kill people?” I shouted with my voice breaking. It stood very still, eyes fixed on me.

-I can’t tell you.

My eyes darted to Grant hunched over one of the boys then back at Demos. I shook my head refusing to believe he was Demos. No way.

-I am Demos.

“No, you are not. He wouldn’t keep secrets from me. He couldn’t lie. He couldn’t hurt people. What are you?” I struggled to my feet. The furry creature jumped away from me. Agile of its feet. Its ears twitched and turned towards the stores.

-Backup is here.

“I need to recharge now,” announce Grant as he got to his feet. Demos throttled next to him and sniffed his hand. Grant patted his head, the large beast curled against his palm.

“Fluffy, I like your new look,” chuckled Grant.

-You’re hurt.

“Nah, it’s nothing,” Grant smiled back. They both turned to me in sync.

“I think you’ve shocked her out of her skin,” said Grant with a sad expression. “Let’s head to that socket,” Grant limped to the road not waiting from me to recover.